Numismatist coin classifier



March 8, 1966 H. c. BARBIE 3,238,953

NUMISMA'IIST COIN CLASSIFIER Filed Sept. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Helen0 Barbie INVENTOR.

BY m, 119% March 8, 1966 H. c. BARBIE NUMISMATIST COIN CLASSIFIER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1964 Helen 6. Barbie I N VENTOR UnitedStates Patent 3,238,953 NUMHSMATIST COIN CLASSIFIER Helen C. Barbie, 714Oak Ridge Drive, Neosho, Mo. Filed Sept. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 398,983 12Claims. (Cl. l333) This invention comprises a novel and usefulnumismatist coin classifier and more particularly pertains to aclassifying table to facilitate the sorting and collecting of differentspecies of a particular article.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a classifying andsorting device which will facilitate the separating of a miscellaneouscollection of coins of a given denomination into various species as forexample into groups with different dates, mint marks and the like.

More broadly, it is a basic purpose of the invention to provide aclassifying device in the form of a table or the like having a fiat topsurface for moving articles to be classified together with openingsthrough the table each carrying a label identifying some particularspecies of the article to be classified together with respectacles eachdisposed beneath an opening for collecting the articles passedtherethrough whereby the articles will be segregated into differentcategories.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a classifyingdevice in accordance with the preceding objects which shall have a fiatplanar surface to facilitate shifting the articles thereover in order toposition an article in register with a selected slot through the tablewhereby the article may be passed into a receptacle designated for thatparticular species of the article.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedconstruction of a classifying table in accordance with the precedingobjects which shall include a plurality of different slots through whichdesignated species of articles may be disposed together with labelsrecessed into and flush with the top surface of the table designatingthe particular species for which each slot is intended and furtherhaving an inspection area recessed into the top surface of the table andincluding a glass plate beneath which is disposed an information sheetcontaining various data related to the articles to be classified.

Yet another purpose of the invention is to provide a classifying devicein accordance with the foregoing objects which shall include an improvedmeans for detachably mounting a series of article-receiving receptacles,there being one for each of the classifying slots of the table togetherwith means for effecting easy removal of the articles collected in eachreceptacle therefrom.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a suitable embodi ment of aclassifying table in accordance with the princi ples of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view in top plan taken upon an enlarged scaleof the top surface of the table of FIGURE 1, parts being broken away andcertain con cealed parts being shown in dotted lines therein;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical transverse section taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 1 and showingfurther details of the structure of the table and of the receptaclescarried there by, parts being broken away; and,

FIGURE 4 is a further detailed view in vertical longi tudinal sectiontaken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 ofFIGURE 1.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral ltl designates generally thenumismatist table or classifying table in accordance with thisinvention. The table includes a platform or table top 12 which ismounted upon suitable supporting legs 14 the latter being preferablylongitudinally extensible as by including telescoping upper and lowersections 16 and 18 with the latter having pads or foot members 20thereon and with the upper section having a wing bolt 22screw-threadedly engaged therethrough for adjustably retaining the lowersection of the leg in adjusted position. As will be observed from FIGURE3, the upper leg sections 16 may be each provided with a mounting flange24 preferably integral therewith and which is detachably secured to theunderside of the table top or platform 12 as by fastening screws 26.

In its broadest aspect, the table top is provided with a plurality ofopenings therethrough each of which is adapted to receive a particularspecies or article to be classified such as a coin of some particulardenomination, the species of which it is desired to separate as by yearsand mint marks. Receptacles 3t) are provided, disposed one beneath eachof the openings for receiving the coins passed therethrough.

Referring now especially to FIGURE 3, it will be observed that the tabletop or platform 12 comprises preferably upper and lower panels 32 and 34which are preferably coextensive and are superposed upon each other andsecured in face to face relation as for example by the fastening screws26 previously mentioned.

The openings extending through the platform or table top include aplurality of slots 36 which extend through the top panel and whichregister with a plurality of openings 38 of a larger size than that ofthe slots for a purpose to be subsequently apparent, see for exampleFIGURE 2, and beneath which opening 36 the open top of one of thereceptacles 30 is disposed.

In a preferred form of the invention, each of the re ceptacles 30comprises a bag of a suitable material such as chamois, or othersuitable material which will protect the coins from tarnish and preventscratching of the same as they are collected in the bag. The open upperend of the bag is provided with a laterally outwardly projecting portionin the form of a rim or flange it) which, when folded outwardly uponitself is received upon the bottom wall of suitable recesses 42 disposedin the top surface of the lower panel 34. Thus, an end portion of thebag extends through the opening 48 of the lower panel with its rim orflange comprising a mounting means projecting laterally therefrom andlying in the bottom of the recess 42. The attaching of the upper panelto the lower panel thus serves to releasably clamp and retain the openend of the receptable or bag between the two panels of the platform ortable top with the bag itself depending therebeneath as shown in thedrawings.

Access means are provided for the bag so that the collection of coinstherein may be removed. This access means preferably comprises adischarge opening or slot 45 in the bottom wall or lower portion of thebag which opening is controlled by a slide fastener 48 of anyconventional type. Thus, coins or other articles collected in thereceptacle can be readily removed from time to time as found to benecessary and without detaching the receptacles from their mounting uponthe table top or platform.

The platform or table top is also provided with other recesses includinga plurality of recesses 56. Each of the recesses 50 is disposed adjacentone of the slots 36 and receives therein a label or plate or indiciaplate 52 of any suitable character. This plate, as shown best in FIGURE2, is provided with suitable indicia 54 thereon such as the year and/orthe mint mark of a coin or the like which will identify the particularspecies of the article to be deposited through the corresponding slot36. Preferably, the indicia plates 52 have their top surfaces flush withthe top surface of the platform 12 so as to facilitate ready sliding ofan article upon this top surface during the sorting and classifyingoperation prior to dropping the article through one of the selectedslots 36.

A still further recess 56 is provided in the table top and which is of asuflicient area and size to constitute an inspection station. Preferablyan information sheet is placed in the bottom of this recess and iscovered and retained therein as by a transparent plate 58 of glass orthe like. The information sheet may contain appropriate pertinent datawith regard to the coins or other articles to be classified and sortedfor the benefit of the person using the table.

Preferably the top surface of the transparent plate 58 is also flushwith the top of the platform 12 and there is also provided a rim orborder 60 secured to the top surface of the platform and surrounding andconfining the area of the inspection plate 58.

It is to be appreciated that the supporting legs 14 may be individuallyadjusted in length by extensively adjusting the upper and lower sections16 and 18 with the use of a thumbscrew 22. This enables the planar flattop surface of the platform 12 to be inclined at any desired angle tofacilitate shifting of the coins thereover if desired.

Obviously, the platform may be of any suitable material, the inventionbeing not limited to any particular choice of materials for thispurpose. Further, although the iudicia label recesses 50 and theinspection area recess 56 are shown as being recessed only into and notextending entirely through the top panel 32, it is evident that tofacilitate manufacture, these recesses may themselves be in the form ofopenings extending entirely through the top panel and thus be enclosedby the top surface of the bottom panel immediately therebeneath.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A classifying table for numismaticians comprising a platform having aplanar top surface together with a plurality of openings extendingthrough said platform each allowing passage therethrough of a particularspecies of article whereby to separate the articles by species, areceptacle for each opening disposed beneath said platform andcommunicating with its associated opening, means detachably mountingsaid receptacles upon said platform, an access opening the lower portionof each receptacle and a slide fastener releasably closing each of saidaccess openings.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said platform comprises upper andlower panels disposed in superposed face to face engagement, said lowerpanel having openings each registering with an opening in said toppanel, said receptacles having laterally projecting mounting flangesconstituting said receptable mounting means and retained between saidpanels.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each receptacie comprises a baghaving an open top in continuous communication with one of saidopenings, said receptacle mounting means including an outturned rim ofsaid bag open top, said platform having upper and lower detachableportions through which each of said openings extend, said rim beingclampingly retained between said portions.

4. A classifying table for numismaticians comprising a platform having aplanar tap surface together with a plurality of openings extendingthrough said platform each allowing passage therethrough of a particularspecies of article 'whereby to separate the articles by species, areceptacle for each opening disposed beneath said platform andcommunicating with its associated opening, means detachably mountingsaid receptacles upon said platform, an access opening in the lowerportion of each receptacle and means carried by each of said receptaclesremovably closing its access opening.

5. The combination of claim 1 including supporting legs on saidplatform, at least one of said supporting legs being adjustablyextensible whereby to variably tilt said platform top surface.

6. The combination of claim 1 including recesses in said platform topsurface, each recess being disposed adjacent one of said openings, labelplates, each identifying the species for which the associated opening isintended, each label plate being secured in one recess and having itstop surface flush with that of said platform top surface.

7. The combination of claim 1 including a recess in said platform topsurface, a transparent plate seated in said recess and having a topsurface substantially flush with that of said platform top surface, aninformation sheet disposed in said recess beneath said transparentplate.

8. A numismatist coin classifier comprising a table having supportinglegs and a platform mounted thereon, said platform comprising upper andlower panels secured together in face to face relation, said upper panelhaving a plurality of coin receiving slots extending therethrough, saidlower panel having a plurality of openings therethrough, each openingbeing of greater size than and registering with one of said coin slots,a plurality of coin receptacles, one for each slot having an open topand a laterally projecting mounting flange, said receptacle extendingthrough said opening and depending beneath said lower panel and havingits mounting flange clamped between said panels, access means in thelower portion of each receptacle for removing the coins collectedtherein.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said receptacle is a bag and saidaccess means comprises an opening with a slide fastener controlling saidbag access opening.

10. The combination of claim 8 including an inspection station on saidplatform comprising a recess in the top surface of said upper panel, aninformation sheet in the bottom of said recess, a glass plate in saidrecess overlying said sheet for visual inspection thereof.

11. The combination of claim 8 including a plurality of indicia recessesin the upper panel top surface, label plates, each designating aparticular coin to be inserted into a receptacle and disposed each inone of said indicia recesses.

12. A classifying table for numismaticians comprising a platform havinga planar top surface together with a plurality of slots extendingthrough said platform each adapted to edgewise receive therethrough aparticular species of coins whereby a plurality of coins may beseparated by species, said slots being sutflciently small in transverseshape and siZe to prevent said coins from passing therethrough unlesssaid coins are substantially edgewise disposed relative to said slots,receptacle means disposed beneath said platform and communicating withsaid openings, said platform having recesses formed in its top surface,each of said recesses being disposed adjacent one of said slots, labelplates, each identifying the species for which the associated slot isintended, each label plate being secured in the corresponding recess andhaving its top surface flush with the adjacent portions of the topsurface of the platform, said platform top surface including anadditional recess, a transparent plate seated in said ad ditional recessand having a top surface substantially flush with the adjacent portionsof the top surface of said platform, and an information sheet disposedin said additional recess beneath said transparent plate.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner2,973,138 2/ 1961 Epstein 23262 X Garcla 697,108 4/1902 Smith 133-31,437,670 12/1922 M H 0 ch 108 144 LOUIS DEMBO, Prlmary Examlner-2,163,351 6/1939 Paul "133-3 5 s. H. TOLLBERG, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CLASSIFYING TABLE FOR NUMISMATICIANS COMPRISING A PLATFORM HAVING APLANAR TOP SURFACE TOGETHER WITH A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID PLATFORM EACH ALLOWING PASSAGE THERETHROUGH OF A PARTICULARSPECIES OF ARTICLES WHEREBY TO SEPARATE THE ARTICLES BY SPECIES, ARECEPTACLE FOR EACH OPENING DISPOSED BENEATH SAID PLATFORM ANDCOMMUNICATING WITH ITS ASSOCIATED OPENING, MEANS DETACHABLY MOUNTINGSAID RECEPTACLES UPON SAID PLATFORM, AN ACCESS OPENING THE LOWER PORTIONOF EACH RECEPTACLE AND A SLIDE FASTENER RELEASABLY CLOSING EACH OF SAIDACCESS OPENINGS.